Axel Rudi Pell

Axel Rudi Pell (born 27 June 1960)[2] is a German heavy metal guitar player. He commenced his musical career with Steeler (1984–88) before leaving in 1988 for a solo career.[3] During this time, he has played with such drummers as Jörg Michael and Mike Terrana, and singers Charlie Huhn,[3] Johnny Gioeli of Hardline, Jeff Scott Soto, and Rob Rock. Gioeli remains the longest surviving vocalist of the band, having joined the group since 1998 on the album Oceans of Time, Gioeli's first musical appearance since the 1992 Hardline album Double Eclipse.

Axel Rudi Pell
Background information
Born (1960-06-27) 27 June 1960
Bochum, Germany[1]
Genres
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1981–present
LabelsSPV
Associated acts
Websiteaxel-rudi-pell.de

Axel often says his music is about a Knight in shining armour going on various adventures. Each album continues one new quest after the other, and songs are told as separate stories. Axel's main influence in guitar work has been Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple.

SPV Records released a live DVD on 25 February 2008, titled Live over Europe, which includes the full performance from the Rock Hard Festival in 2007, and comes with a bonus disc which includes live footage from Pell's own archive.[4] In 2012 a new Axel Rudi Pell live concert CD/DVD Live on Fire was released.

In 2013, ex-Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli joined the band, replacing Mike Terrana after his initial departure in 2013. Mike Terrana wanted to pursue other projects, such as becoming a member of the supergroup The Ferrymen, featuring Rainbow singer Ronnie Romero on vocals. Axel celebrated his 25th anniversary as a musician in 2014, headlining the Bang Your Head festival in Balignen Germany on July 11, 2014. It featured one of the original line up's singers: Jeff Scott Soto. Special guests also included Joerg Michael, Rob Rock, Ronnie Atkins, John Lawton, ex-Rainbow singer Graham Bonnett, Doogie White, keyboardist Tony Carey and drummer Vinny Appice. The show consisted of 3 acts: a short Steeler reunion and brief Axel Rudi Pell original line up reunion with Jeff Scott Soto, a full modern Axel Rudi Pell show with vocalist Johnny Gioeli and current band members, and the last act featuring various Deep Purple and Rainbow covers with a full ensemble.

In 2019 the band celebrated their 30th anniversary, releasing a double live album called XXX - 30th Anniversary Live. The songs were recorded on various dates of the Knights Call 2018 tour. The group's Facebook page stated at the time that the band did not know they were being recorded but when they heard the audio they were amazed and wanted to release it to celebrate the group's 30th Anniversary. It was released in June 2019 on CD and LP.

On February 5, 2020, they announced their latest album on their Facebook page, titled Sign of the Times, due for release on April 24, 2020. A German tour will follow in support of the new record. Axel is well known for his extensive touring, mostly around Germany and his home town in Bochum. He rarely tours in western countries, however has performed a few one off shows in London. There is often high demand to bring him to other countries, but he prefers to perform local shows. They are also famous for attending many music festivals such as making multiple appearances at Wacken Open Air. In March 2020, the band announced a delay of the release of their upcoming album, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and will be released on May 8, 2020.

Band members

[5]

Current
  • Axel Rudi Pell — guitar (1989–present)
  • Johnny Gioeli — lead vocals (1997–present)
  • Ferdy Doernberg — keyboards (1997–present)
  • Volker Krawczak — bass guitar (1989–present)
  • Bobby Rondinelli — drums (2013–present)
Past
Vocals
Bass
Drums
Keyboards
  • Georg Hahn (1989)
  • Rüdiger König (1989)
  • Kai Raglewski (1991–92)
  • Julie Greaux (1993–96)
  • Christian Wolff (1997)
Timeline

Discography

With Steeler
  • Steeler (1984)
  • Rulin' the Earth (1985)
  • Strike Back (1986)
  • Undercover Animal (1988)

Solo

Albums
  • Wild Obsession (1989)[3]
  • Nasty Reputation (1991)[3]
  • Eternal Prisoner (1992)
  • Between the Walls (1994)
  • Black Moon Pyramid (1996)
  • Magic (1997)
  • Oceans of Time (1998)
  • The Masquerade Ball (2000)
  • Shadow Zone (2002)
  • Kings and Queens (2004)
  • Mystica (2006)
  • Diamonds Unlocked (2007) (cover album)
  • Tales of the Crown (2008)
  • The Crest (2010)
  • Circle of the Oath (2012)
  • Into the Storm (2014)
  • Game of Sins (2016)
  • Knights Call (2018)
  • Sign of the Times (2020)

Compilations

Live
  • Made in Germany (1995)
  • Knights Live (2002)
  • Live on Fire (2013)
  • Magic Moments: 25th Anniversary Special Show (2015)
  • XXX Anniversary Live (2019)

DVDs
  • Knight Treasures (Live and More) (2002)
  • Live Over Europe (2008)
  • One Night Live (2010)
  • Live on Fire (2013)
  • Magic Moments 25th Anniversary Special Show (2015)
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References
  1. "Axel Rudi Pell". Axel-rudi-pell.de. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  2. "Discographie Axel Rudi Pell". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who’s Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 272. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  4. "Axel Rudi Pell Announces Live Over Europe DVD". Archived from the original on 7 February 2008.
  5. Axel Rudi Pell in the Encyclopaedia Metallum
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